In a significant escalation against media institutions, Taliban intelligence forces reportedly besieged the offices of a major media house and its parent organization in Kabul for several hours following the reported detention of two of its journalists.
According to informed sources, around 50-armed intelligence personnel surrounded the headquarters in the Wazir Akbar Khan area, sealing off access and controlling movement inside and outside the premises. The siege reportedly lasted more than six hours and began shortly after the media outlet published social media posts regarding the detention of two of its journalists.
Sources said that within a short time of the posts appearing online, armed personnel entered the premises and took control of the building. The action coincided with growing internal tension after reports emerged that two senior journalists had been detained in separate incidents in Kabul over the preceding days, including near the organization’s offices and in other central areas of the city.
One of the detained journalists, a news presenter and political programme host, was reportedly taken into custody earlier in the week, while another senior political section editor was detained later near the media group’s headquarters. Sources further indicated that another journalist linked to a separate news agency was also detained in a related development, with no public information available regarding their current whereabouts.
During the siege, intelligence personnel allegedly confiscated mobile phones belonging to staff across multiple media platforms operating under the same media network, including television, radio, and digital outlets. Employees were reportedly placed under close surveillance, and movement within the premises was restricted for several hours.
Sources also claimed that several staff members were mistreated during the operation, with physical force used in some instances. Female employees were reportedly allowed to leave the premises later in the evening, while male staff remained under monitoring for an additional period before being released from the immediate confinement.
In a further development, the social media account of one of the detained journalists briefly posted a message denying reports of detention, before normal activity resumed later. Media operations across the organization were disrupted for several hours during the incident, with posting activity resuming only later in the evening.
Neither the media organization nor the authorities have issued an official statement explaining the reasons behind the detentions or the subsequent siege at the time of reporting.
Separately, an exile-based media watchdog organization has called on the United Nations and the European Union to urgently intervene for the release of detained journalists, describing the developments as part of a sustained pattern of pressure on media professionals.
The organization stated that dozens of journalists have faced detention, intimidation, or imprisonment in recent years, with several still reportedly in custody. It warned that media freedom continues to deteriorate sharply, with increasing restrictions contributing to an environment of fear and uncertainty for journalists operating in the country.
It further urged international bodies to engage directly with authorities to secure the immediate and unconditional release of detained media workers, stressing that such actions reflect a broader and ongoing restriction on press freedom.
Media advocacy groups have similarly raised concerns over the worsening conditions for journalists, noting that multiple cases of detention remain unresolved and access to independent reporting continues to shrink.
At the time of filing this report, no official clarification had been issued regarding the detentions or the siege of the media premises.
